Collapsible lunch-box



(No Model.) 4 sheets sheet- '1.

G. w. WEBER. GOLLAPSIBLE LUNGH BOX.

No. 566,042. Patented Aug. 18, 1896;

WL'Zne as ea per- George aruuTHq, WASNINGTON u (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W..=WEBER. GOLLAPSIBLE LUNCH BOX.

Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet '8. G. W. WEBER.

GOLLAPSIBLE LUNCH BOX..

Patepted Aug. 18, 1896.

(No Model.) 4 Sheefis-8heet 4. G. W. WEBER-1 GOLLAPSIBLE LUNCH BOX. 7

No. 566,042. Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

/ yfzl'fnessesr I I f) .ffttorneyf inventor: fieofyewyyber- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. W'EBER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COLLAPSIBLE LUNCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,042, dated August 18, 1896.

Application filed April 24:, 1895. Serial No. 547,015. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' with all the parts flat or horizontal to serve as a plate.

To this end my invention consists in a box the front and rear sides of which have a double reversible hinge connection with the bottom, the end pieces having a similar connection with the front side or bottom, and the top with the rear side of the box, the rear side being formed in two parts with a connecting double hinge, allowing it to be folded upon itself when the box is in collapsed position. The bottom and top of the box are similarly recessed, thus forming a space, when the parts are collapsed, into which the sides and. ends fold, the rear side folding upon itself and leaving a space between it and the front of the box into which a coffee-flask may be fitted, the flask serving as an additional support for the top of the box. The end pieces are provided with an interlocking hooked connection with the rear side of the box, when arranged as a receptacle, to hold the parts in place, and the top is preferably provided with sliding bolts adapted to engage loops upon the end pieces or front when the box is used as a receptacle and to engage similar loops upon the bottom of the box when the parts are collapsed, thus firmly securing them together.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a front elevation'of my improved box shown provided with a clip by which it can be attached to a bicycle. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, the top being shown by dotted lines in raised position. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the dotted-line position indicating the ends partially unlocked from the rear side. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the same with the parts in extended or outspread position. Fig. 5 is an end viewof the box shownin collapsed position. Fig. 6 is 'a detail of the interlocking connection between the end pieces and rear side of the box, and Fig. 7 is a detail of the coffee-flask adapted to be used with the box. Fig. 8 is a detail of part of a modification of my invention provided with springs for holding the end pieces and rear of the box locked together, and Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 10 isa front elevation showing the locking-bolt upon the top engaging loops upon the front side of the box instead of upon the ends. Fig. 11 is an end elevation provided with a modified form of interlocking means between the end pieces and rear side, and Figs. 12 and 13 are details of the, interlocking means. Fig. 14 is a vertical section of myinvention, showing a hook connecting the front and rear sides to hold the parts more securely in place when used as a receptacle. Fig. 15 is an end view of a modifled form provided with a compartment for holding a bottle or similar vessel. Fig. 16 is a similar view, the dotted-line position indicating the top thrown back; and Fig. 17 is a plan View of the same with the top removed.-

In the drawings, A represents the box provided with a suitablehandle 2, the front and rear sides 3 and 4 being provided with a reversible hinge connection 5 and 6 with the bottom 7. The rear side 4 has a similar connection with the top 8, the rear side being formed in two parts with a connecting double hinge 9, allowing it to be folded upon itself when the parts are in collapsed position. The ends 10 also have a reversible hinge connection 11 with the front side of the box, their free ends being provided with the hems or folds 12, adapted to be slipped into engage ment with the similar hems 13 upon the ends of the rear side of the box, thus holding them locked together when the box is used as a receptacle.

As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the hems 13 are cut away at the hinge 9, giving room for the play of the hinge when the parts are collapsed and in slipping the end pieces into and out of engagement with'the rear of the box.

' cation of my invention, the end pieces in this In order to. keep the bottom of the end pieces level, I provide the raised parts or projections 14 upon the bottom of the rear corners of the box, upon which the end pieces rest, these projections being high enough to compensate for the height of the hinge 5. The ends of the top are provided with the locking-bolts 15, adapted to engage the loops 16 upon the ends of the box, when it is used as a receptacle, to hold the top down, or to engage the loops 17 upon the bottom of the box, when the parts are collapsed, to firmly secure them together.

The top of the box, as shown, is formed with the downwardly-proj ecting edges 18, and the bottom with the upwardly-projecting end and rear edges 19, thus forming a recess into which the parts can be folded when collapsed, a coffee-flask 2O fitting into the space between the folded rear side and front of the box, Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 the box is shown provided with a clip 21, by means of which it can be attached to a bicycle, the clip lying inside of the box when the parts are in collapsed position.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show a modification of the interlocking connection between the end pieces and the rear of the box. This consists, as in the other construction, of engaging hems 12 and 13 upon the end and rear sides, the hems in this form being held securely locked together by means of the spring 22, attached to the inside of the rear of the box, the free end 23 of the spring passing through a slot in the box, allowing the spring to give when the hems are slipped into and out of engagement.

In Fig. 10 I show the locking-bolt 24 secured to the front of the top lid of the box and engaging loops 25 on the front side, when the box is used as areceptacle, or the loop 26 upon the bottom of the box when the parts are in collapsed position, instead of having the bolt and loops upon theends of the box.

In. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 is shown a modifiform being hinged to the ends of the bottom of the box, instead of to the front piece, and being adapted to fold inward into the space between the upturned front and rear edges 27 upon the bottom of the box when the parts are collapsed. The locking connection betweenthe end pieces and rear side is substantially the same as in Figs. 8 and 9, excepting that I show a slightly-different form of spring 28 for holding the hems locked together.

In Fig. 14: I show a supplementary hook 29 hinged to the front side and engaging the eye 30 upon the rear side of the box, to aid in holding the parts together when in position for use.

Figs. 15, 16, and 17 illustrate another modification of my invention. In this form the bottom of the box is provided with a downwardly-projecting compartment 31 for holding a bottle or similar vessel. The end pieces and front and rear sides, as in the preceding form, are provided with a reversible hinge connection with the bottom, so as to allow the parts to be collapsed or to be outspread in horizontal position. In this construction, instead of forming the rear side in two parts with a connecting-hinge, I prefer to provide a suitable sliding connection between the top and rear side, so that the top can be closed down upon the other parts, as shown in Fig. 15. I also provide a central partition 32, hinged to the front side of the box and provided with the outturned lip 33, engaging the lip 34 upon the rear side when the box is used as a receptacle, the partition folding against the front side when the parts are in collapsed position. 7

By means of the sliding hooked connection between the ends and rear side and the other features I obtain a box which when set up is perfectly tight, and the parts are as firmly locked together with the cover open as closed, so that in the filling of the box the parts will. not become unlocked. This is especially important, as in original use the boxes are ordinarily filled with tea or tobacco, the box being furnished gratis with the contents. This makes it necessary to have the parts very securely locked together, so that thestrain in filling and the weight of the contents will not unlock them.

The double reversible back in combination with the recessed top is another important feature of my invention, as it brings the handle upon the outside of the box in closed as well as open position.

I claim- 1'. In an open-out lunch-box, the combination with the bottom and top thereof, of the sides reversibly hinged to said bottom, the end pieces hinged to one of said sides, and the interlocking hooked connection between the ends of the other side of said box and said end pieces, allowing the same to be slipped out of engagement longitudinally of said interlocking connection, but preventing them from being disengaged by a'lateral pull.

2. In an open-out lunch-box, the combination with the top and bottom thereof, and the sides hinged to said bottom, of the end pieces hinged to one of said sides, the free edges of said end pieces having an interlocking hooked connection with the other side of the box, so as to constitute a sliding lock connection, preventing lateral disengagement.

3. In a box of the class described, the combination with the bottom, the sides reversibly hinged thereto and the reversibly hinged ends, of the corner-locking device for said ends and sides consisting of a hem or fold upon one of said ends interlocking with a similar fold upon one of said sides, when the parts are arranged to form a receptacle, preventing disengagement of said parts by a lateral pull.

4. In a box of the class described, the combination with the top and bottom, the reverhinged to said bottom and having an interlocking hooked connection with the ends, said rear side being formed with a central double hinge allowing it to be folded upon said front and ends within said recess when the parts are collapsed, leaving a space between said folded rear side and the front of the box to receive a flask.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. GEORGE W. WEBER, WVitnesses:

H. S. JOHNSON, F. G. BRADBURY. 

